Electronic game enhancement systems and methods

ABSTRACT

An electronic game enhancement system including an electronic game stored in game memory, an electronic game device for accessing and playing the electronic game, an electronic component stored in the memory of a memory device for enhancing the electronic game, a consumer instrument associated with the memory device, and a data transfer system associated with the electronic game device and the memory device for facilitating a transfer of the electronic component from the memory of the memory device to the game memory for enhancing the functionality of the electronic game.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional ApplicationSerial No. 60/248,039, filed Nov. 13, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to electronic games and to systems andmethods for enhancing electronic game functionality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Electronic games are enormously popular. The growth in the marketof electronic games is fueled by not only consumer demands for new andinteresting electronic games but also innovations in the technology bywhich electronic games are played. Advancements in electronic gametechnology is marked as much by efforts to provide inexpensive,hand-held electronic game device or personal game devices and increasedminiaturization of hand-held electronic game devices as it is byimprovements toward networked gaming environments, improved means forproviding communication between electronic game devices and varioussystems and methods for enhancing electronic game functionality.Although the field of electronic games is robust and dynamic, consumerneeds for advanced technology and new and improved electronic gamescontinues to promote advancements in this field of endeavor.

[0004] In this spirit, there is a need for new and improved systems andmethods for enhancing the functionality of electronic games and formarrying electronic game enhancement technology with consumer productsand services and advertisements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The above problems and others are at least partially solved andthe above purposes and others realized in an electronic game enhancementsystem including an electronic game stored in first memory, electronicapparatus having an input device responsive to commands for accessingand playing the electronic game and an electronic component stored insecond memory. The electronic component is for enhancing the electronicgame. A consumer instrument is associated with a device containing thesecond memory. A data transfer system is associated with the electronicapparatus and the device for facilitating a transfer of the electroniccomponent from the second memory to the first memory for enhancing theelectronic game. The consumer instrument includes a consumer product,and the device is attached to one of the consumer product and packagingof the consumer product. In another embodiment, the consumer instrumentis a service that is to be purchased, and the device is made accessibleafter a purchase of the service. In yet another embodiment, the consumerinstrument is an advertisement, and the device is made accessible by wayof the advertisement.

[0006] In a further embodiment, the invention provides an electronicgame enhancement system including an electronic game stored in memory,electronic apparatus having an input device responsive to commands foraccessing and playing the electronic game and an electronic componentstored in password-accessible memory. The electronic component is forenhancing the electronic game, and a consumer instrument is associatedwith a password to the password-accessible memory. The electroniccomponent is accessible by the electronic apparatus in response to entryof the password into the electronic apparatus with the input device. Inanother embodiment, the password-accessible memory is accessible inresponse to entry of the passwoord into a data transfer station such asa computer, and wherein the electronic component is capable of thenbeing downloaded to the electronic apparatus and, more particularly, tothe memory that stores the electronic game.

[0007] Consistent with the foregoing, the invention also incorporatesassociated methods. One method of enhancing electronic gamefunctionality includes steps of providing an electronic game stored infirst memory and electronic apparatus having an input device responsiveto commands for accessing and playing the electronic game and providingan electronic component stored in second memory. The electroniccomponent is for enhancing the electronic game. The method furtherincludes associating a consumer instrument with a device containing thesecond memory, and associating a data transfer system with theelectronic apparatus and the device for facilitating a transfer of theelectronic component from the second memory to the first memory forenhancing the electronic game. Associating the consumer instrument withthe device can include attaching the device to one of a consumer productand packaging of a consumer product. Associating the consumer instrumentwith the device can also include permitting access to the device, forinstance after paying a fee for a service.

[0008] In still another embodiment of the invention, provided is amethod of enhancing electronic game functionality including steps ofproviding an electronic game stored in memory and electronic apparatushaving an input device responsive to commands for accessing and playingthe electronic game and providing an electronic component stored inpassword-accessible memory. The electronic component is for enhancingthe electronic game. The method further includes associating a passwordto the password-accessible memory with a consumer instrument and thenobtaining the password from the consumer instrument. Thepassword-accessible memory can be part of the memory of the electronicapparatus or other memory accessible by way of another device orcomputer having an input device. If the password-accessible memory isaccessible by way of the electronic apparatus, the present methodprovides entering the password into the electronic apparatus with theinput device for gaining access to the password-accessible memory andenhancing the electronic game with the electronic component. If thepassword-accessible memory is accessible by way of device other than theelectronic apparatus, the present method provides entering the passwordinto the other device with its input device for gaining access to thepassword-accessible memory and then transferring the electroniccomponent from the password-protected memory to the memory of theelectronic apparatus by means of a data transfer system. This datatransfer system is associated with the electronic device and the otherdevice or computer and can be any system that is capable of transferringdata from one memory to another memory. Associating the password to thepassword-accessible memory with a consumer instrument can include atleast one of attaching the password to one of a consumer product andpackaging of a consumer product, permitting access to the password afterpaying for a service, incorporating the password with an advertisementand affixing the password to a receipt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Referring to the drawings:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an electronic gamearchitecture, in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] The invention is concerned with electronic games havingelectronic characters or features that the player of the game cancontrol for the purpose of achieving a predetermined objective. This istypical of most electronic games and illustrative of many suchcharacters or features include special powers, characteristics, weapons,ammunition, tools, devices, options, equipment, and other electronicitems or attributes that help the player to progress through orotherwise develop the game. Some electronic games reward periodicsuccesses with additional instrumentalities, which are required toprogress through the game or otherwise help a player progress throughthe game. In other instances, a player may simply require a newinstrumentality in order to progress through the game. In this vein, theinvention provides a way that players can obtain instrumentalitiesneeded to progress through an electronic game, which is played by acomputerized device such a personal game device (PGA), a computer, etc.

[0012] Turning now to FIG. 1, a schematic view of an electronic gamearchitecture 10 is shown. Architecture 10 includes electronic gameapparatus 11 having a processor 12, a display 13 and an input device 14such as a pointing device, a keypad or keyboard, a joystick, a wheel,etc. Apparatus 11 is capable of enabling a user to play an electronicgame 31, and input device 14 provides a user with the ability tointeract with electronic game 31. Apparatus 11 includes a hand-heldelectronic game device or personal game device (PGD), a modular gamesystem of a type that is used in connection with a monitor ortelevision, a personal computer, a laptop computer or any device orsystem that is capable of enabling a user to access and play anelectronic game that is facilitated by game software 17. As is the casewith virtually every device or system that is capable of enabling one ormore users to play an electronic game facilitated by software, apparatus11 functions in accordance with a suitable operating platform and ispreferably provided with storage or memory 15 or with access theretowhich houses game software 17, and that may be used for storing anelectronic game in the course of play. Apparatus 11 is also furnishedwith a drive 16 for accommodating data cartridges, diskettes and/orcompact discs for facilitating access to software embodied and stored indigital or analog media memory, and memory 15 can include, either intotal or in part, the storage capability provided by any such cartridge,diskette or compact disc. In a particular embodiment, apparatus 11 iscapable of playing electronic games in a networked computer environmentsuch as the Internet. In this case, memory 15 can include residentmemory and/or central memory and apparatus 11 is configured with abrowser application and other conventional wares and software forfacilitating network 19 access and negotiation and these features willreadily occur to those skilled in the art.

[0013] Set forth for purposes of orientation and reference in connectionwith the ensuing detailed description of the preferred embodiment of theinstant invention, the foregoing brief description of electronic gameapparatus 11 is intended to be generally representative of typicaldedicated and non-dedicated electronic game devices and computers andgame systems. Details not specifically illustrated and described will bereadily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0014] The invention proposes providing certain game instrumentalitiesor components to electronic games in the form of an “attachment” to aconsumer instrument 20, which is at least one of a product 21, a service22 and an advertisement 23. As a matter of example, product 21 includesany consumer product such as a car, a food product, a clothing product,a video, a compact disk, a bag of potato chips, a candy bar, a book, amagazine, a bag of pet food, a newspaper, and otherwise any perishableand non-perishable consumer good. Service 22 includes restaurantservices, movie theater services, personal training services, carpetcleaning services, tanning services, car wash services, and otherwiseany service by which consumers may purchase. Advertisement 23 includesprinted and broadcast advertisements including newspaper advertisements,magazine advertisements, radio advertisements, televised advertisements,etc. In accordance with the invention, only by purchasing a product orservice or by accessing an advertisement may a player obtain anelectronic game component.

[0015] In this regard, the invention provides attaching at least onegame component 30 to consumer instrument 20 and more can be attached ifdesired. Game component 30 is considered one that a player needs ordesires to play a predetermined electronic game 31 or to otherwiseprogress through an electronic game that is facilitated by game software17, which can be any game software. In an exemplary embodiment,component 30 is housed in a memory device 32, which is removablyattached to a consumer product or to the packaging of a consumerproduct, or otherwise provided to a customer by a merchant in the saleof or otherwise upon the completion of the sale of a product or service.The physical attaching can be facilitated with a mild adhesive, andpackaging can be modified to accommodate and hold device 32 in anydesired manner. Memory device 32 includes a data cartridge, diskette orcompact disc or the like that houses component 30 in the form ofsoftware that may be downloaded to apparatus 11 for the purpose ofessentially upgrading game software 17 with the functionality providedby component 30. The data transfer between memory device 32 andapparatus 11 is facilitated by a data transfer system 33, which, in thisembodiment, includes a conventional and well known data transferarchitecture between a data cartridge, diskette or compact disc anddrive 16 such as any one of a variety of forms presently known and usedin connection with virtually every computer and game device. Downloadingof the component 30 from device 32 can occur upon docking or loadingwith drive 16 or in response to user commands entered at input device 14after docking or loading and any downloading event may be carried out ineither fashion in any embodiment of the invention. More likely than not,a downloading event will usually take place and be facilitated inresponse to user inputs or commands.

[0016] Those of ordinary skill will readily appreciate that the art isreplete with various systems and methods for facilitating data transferbetween electronic components and, more particularly, from one storageor memory device to another storage or memory device including wired andwireless data transfer architectures, display-to-display data transferarchitectures, encoded data stream systems that facilitate data transferbetween opposing displays or electronic devices, etc. In the case of ahand-hand game device, the invention contemplates that a user may takehis or her hand-held game device to a place of business where a productor service is to be purchased. Upon completion of the sale, theinvention provides that the user will be given access to memory device32 for the purpose of interacting with it and downloading component 30.Memory device 32 may be housed in a computerized kiosk or other form ofdata transfer station 36, and data transfer system 33 can include anyvariety of system, including the formerly described data transfersystem, capable of facilitating a downloading of component 30 frommemory device 32 such as by docking the hand-held game device into adata transfer serial port, by initiating a wireless data transfer suchas between a display of the hand-held device and a reference display atthe data transfer station, etc. Depending on the type of data transferarchitecture employed, those of ordinary skill will readily appreciatethat the ingestion may be configured with any necessary systems andapparatus for facilitating any suitable form of data transfer betweenmemory devices.

[0017] In another embodiment, consumer instrument 20 includes a document40, such as a receipt from the sale of goods or services, which isprovided to a consumer after the purchase of one or more goods orservices. Document 40 is furnished with a password 41 that a user can,for instance, input into apparatus 11 for the purpose of unlockingcomponent 30′ from password-protected memory 35 of memory 15 or of othermemory such as that accessible over network 19 by way of a publicly- orprivately-accessible web site, or other password-protected memory suchas that accessible by way of a data transfer station 42 or computer orthe like provided by a merchant of goods or services. Document 40 can beincorporated into a printed advertisement, and also conveyed in thebroadcast of radio and television advertisements. A token that iscapable of providing access to password-protected memory 43 may also beissued at the completion of a sale of one or more goods and services.The token can be of a type that is actually inserted into data transferstation 42 for actuating station 42, much like a coin-operated vendingmachine. In other embodiments, the token can be of a type thatincorporates a magnetic strip that is to be swiped through a magneticcode recognition device, or a type that issues access topassword-protected memory 43 in response to anelectronically-facilitated wireless recognition event.

[0018] The invention thus provides new systems and methods for enhancingelectronic game functionality, and for adding, activating and unlockingelectronic game functionality, characters and player powers andabilities. By associating components of electronic games with products,services and advertisements, it is envisioned that consumer activitywill be enhanced and that consumer spending will benefit and be causedto flourish. In accordance with the invention, an electronic componentof the invention can be in the form of data that is transferred orotherwise downloaded to apparatus 11 by any conventional data transfermechanism, or otherwise accessible by way of a password, token, etc. Acomponent obtained by a user in accordance with the invention can beprogrammed to last indefinitely or for a predetermined period of time,after which the player may be required to re-obtain the component asherein specifically described.

[0019] The invention has been described above with reference to one ormore preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that changes and modifications may be made to the describedembodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the claimedinvention. Accordingly, any such changes and modifications to one ormore of the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration areintended to be included within the scope of the invention as assessedonly by a fair and reasonable interpretation of the ensuing claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:
 1. An electronic game enhancement systemcomprising: an electronic game stored in first memory; electronicapparatus having an input device responsive to commands for accessingand playing the electronic game; an electronic component stored insecond memory, the electronic component for enhancing the electronicgame; a consumer instrument associated with a device containing thesecond memory; and a data transfer system associated with the electronicapparatus and the device for transferring the electronic component fromthe second memory to the first memory for enhancing the electronic game.2. The electronic game enhancement system of claim 1, wherein theconsumer instrument comprises a consumer product, and the device isattached to one of the consumer product and packaging of the consumerproduct.
 3. The electronic game enhancement system of claim 1, whereinthe consumer instrument comprises at least one of a product, a serviceand an advertisement.
 4. The electronic game enhancement system of claim1, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a personal game device. 5.The electronic game enhancement system of claim 1, wherein theelectronic apparatus comprises a computer.
 6. An electronic gameenhancement system comprising: an electronic game stored in memory;electronic apparatus having an input device responsive to commands foraccessing and playing the electronic game; an electronic componentstored in password-accessible memory, the electronic component forenhancing the electronic game; a consumer instrument associated with apassword to the password-accessible memory; and the electronic componentbeing accessible by the electronic apparatus in response to entry of thepassword into the electronic apparatus with the input device.
 7. Theelectronic game enhancement system of claim 6, wherein the consumerinstrument comprises a consumer product, and the password is attached toone of the consumer product and packaging of the consumer product. 8.The electronic game enhancement system of claim 6, wherein the consumerinstrument comprises at least one of a product and a service.
 9. Theelectronic game enhancement system of claim 6, wherein the consumerinstrument comprises an advertisement, and the password is incorporatedwith the advertisement.
 10. The electronic game enhancement system ofclaim 6, wherein the consumer instrument comprises a document, and thepassword is affixed to the document.
 11. The electronic game enhancementsystem of claim 6, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a personalgame device.
 12. The electronic game enhancement system of claim 6,wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a computer.
 13. A method ofenhancing electronic game functionality comprising steps of: providingan electronic game stored in first memory and electronic apparatushaving an input device responsive to commands for accessing and playingthe electronic game; providing an electronic component stored in secondmemory, the electronic component for enhancing the electronic game;associating a consumer instrument with a device containing the secondmemory; and associating a data transfer system with the electronicapparatus and the device for facilitating a transfer of the electroniccomponent from the second memory to the first memory for enhancing theelectronic game.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step ofassociating the consumer instrument with the device further includesattaching the device to one of a consumer product and packaging of aconsumer product.
 15. Apparatus of claim 13, wherein the step ofassociating the consumer instrument with the device further includespermitting access to the device after payment of a service.
 16. A methodof enhancing electronic game functionality comprising steps of:providing an electronic game stored in memory and electronic apparatushaving an input device responsive to commands for accessing and playingthe electronic game; providing an electronic component stored inpassword-accessible memory, the electronic component for enhancing theelectronic game; associating a password to the password-accessiblememory with a consumer instrument; and obtaining the password from theconsumer instrument; and entering the password into the electronicapparatus with the input device for gaining access to thepassword-accessible memory and enhancing the electronic game with theelectronic component.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step ofassociating the password to the password-accessible memory with aconsumer instrument further includes attaching the password to one of aconsumer product and packaging of a consumer product.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the step of associating the password to thepassword-accessible memory with a consumer instrument further includespermitting access to the password after payment of a service.
 19. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the step of associating the password to thepassword-accessible memory with a consumer instrument further includesincorporating the password with an advertisement.
 20. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the step of associating the password to thepassword-accessible memory with a consumer instrument further includesaffixing the password to a receipt.